An hour later—
The door to my room swung open without warning.
"Velzahar, you in there?"
Azharyon's voice.
Casual.
But his eyes were sharp as he stepped inside, scanning the room.
The sound snapped me awake instantly.
Not groggy.
Not slowly.
Sharp.
My eyes opened at once.
My body reacted before my thoughts fully caught up.
For a brief moment—
Something inside me wanted to move.
To rise.
To respond.
I suppressed the impulse.
"I'll be there soon."
My voice was steady.
Azharyon studied me for a brief second.
Then he nodded.
"Alright."
He stepped back and closed the door.
CLACK.
Silence returned.
But it didn't feel empty.
Something remained beneath it.
Something restless.
---
I sat up slowly.
My body didn't ache anymore.
No lingering pain.
No weakness.
Nothing remained of the agony from before.
Instead—
My body felt…
Compact.
Dense.
Like every fiber of my being had been compressed, broken down, and reforged into something stronger.
I clenched my fist.
The movement was effortless.
Too effortless.
Power responded immediately.
But beneath that strength—
There was something else.
A faint irritation.
A restless edge.
Something I couldn't quite identify.
I exhaled slowly and stood.
Then walked into the bathroom.
Cold water ran over my body.
Steam slowly filled the room.
For several moments, I simply stood there.
Breathing.
Thinking.
Trying to understand what had changed.
Gradually—
My thoughts began to settle.
But not completely.
I raised my head.
The mirror reflected my face.
Same features.
Same structure.
Yet something about the reflection felt different.
My eyes were sharper.
Colder.
More predatory.
I stared at them for several seconds.
Then—
"System."
A blue interface flickered into existence.
«Master, your reward points were used to acquire the Divine Solution.»
My brows narrowed.
"…Explain."
The answer appeared immediately.
«The red solution used in body cultivation contains demonic energy. While effective for rapid physical enhancement, it carries severe mental instability risks.»
My expression hardened.
"…Berserk."
«Affirmative.»
Silence.
I looked at my reflection again.
The red liquid.
The lightning.
The uncontrollable rage.
The feeling of wanting to destroy something simply to make the pain stop.
Everything suddenly made sense.
"What about the blue liquid?"
«The Divine Solution contains purified energy. It stabilizes the body, neutralizes corruption, and promotes controlled growth.»
I folded my arms.
"…So one accelerates violently."
A pause.
"And the other stabilizes the damage."
«Affirmative.»
I leaned against the sink.
Everything aligned.
"The red solution was absorbed faster."
«Due to its aggressive nature.»
"And the blue?"
«Absorption is slower due to its harmonizing function.»
I lowered my gaze.
So the first solution forced my body forward.
The second prevented that growth from tearing me apart.
"If I hadn't taken the blue solution…"
The System paused.
Only for a fraction of a second.
Then—
«A weaker individual would likely lose control and devolve into a demonic state.»
My eyes narrowed.
"…And me?"
«Master possesses high mental fortitude. Complete loss of control is unlikely.»
A brief pause.
Then another line appeared.
«However, side effects would manifest.»
My gaze sharpened.
"…Define side effects."
«Heightened aggression. Emotional instability. Increased violent impulses. Reduced restraint.»
I slowly exhaled.
"So I'd still lose control."
A pause.
"Just not completely."
«Correct.»
Silence.
I stared at the screen.
"…And now?"
«The effects are suppressed but not fully eliminated. Residual influence remains.»
There it was.
That feeling.
The irritation.
The edge.
The subtle pull toward—
Violence.
My fingers tightened around the edge of the sink.
"…Annoying."
«The effects will fade as your body fully integrates the energies.»
"Good."
The blue interface disappeared.
I looked at myself one final time.
Calm.
Composed.
At least on the surface.
I dried myself, dressed, and stepped out of the bathroom.
---
As I walked down the hallway—
A new screen appeared.
«[User Info]
Name: Velzahar
Race: Blue-Eyed White Tiger
Pure Beast Blood: 100%
Accessible Power: 20%
Threat Classification: ???»
I stopped.
My eyes narrowed.
"…Twenty percent?"
I stared at the number.
That wasn't gradual growth.
That was a spike.
Only recently, my accessible power had been far lower.
Now—
Twenty percent.
The Beast Ascension.
The battle with Kragar.
The body cultivation.
The fusion.
Everything had accelerated my growth.
Then—
The screen changed.
«[Warning]
Host bloodline seal is weakening.
Recommendation: Increase strength rapidly and mental fortitude.»
My expression darkened.
So it was accelerating.
The seal wasn't simply weakening anymore.
It was beginning to give way.
"Why wasn't I informed earlier?"
«The increase is primarily due to Master's rapid growth and recent trials.»
I stared at the notification.
"…So it's not entirely negative."
«Correct. Growth is beneficial. Instability is the associated risk.»
I exhaled.
As always—
Power and consequence.
The stronger I became…
The more dangerous the consequences became.
I dismissed the screen.
Then continued walking.
---
The dining area came into view.
I stepped inside.
"Good morning, Mom. Dad."
"Good morning, my dear."
My mother smiled warmly.
But my father—
Didn't answer immediately.
He was watching me.
Closely.
Not as a parent.
As a warrior.
His eyes moved across my body.
My posture.
My breathing.
My movements.
Searching.
Analyzing.
"…Morning."
His voice was calm.
But it carried weight.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
I took my seat.
Picked up my utensils.
And started eating.
One bite.
Then another.
Then another.
Fast.
Too fast.
The food disappeared.
Plate after plate.
I barely tasted anything.
My brother stopped eating.
He stared at me.
"…What's wrong with you?"
I didn't answer.
I simply reached for another plate.
And another.
My mother blinked.
"Velzahar?"
I didn't respond.
My stomach wasn't full.
Not even close.
I slowed down for a moment.
My hand remained above the table.
Something felt wrong.
This wasn't ordinary hunger.
My stomach felt like a void.
Endless.
Unfilled.
The more I ate—
The more my body demanded.
My brother lowered his utensils.
"…Is he okay?"
My mother gave a small laugh.
"Looks like someone is jealous."
My brother frowned.
"Jealous of what?"
She smiled.
"Of how much his brother can eat."
But my father remained silent.
Watching.
Analyzing.
I continued eating.
Yet my thoughts had already moved elsewhere.
This isn't recovery.
I looked down at my hands.
This is adaptation.
The Beast God Physique.
The Flame God Physique.
They weren't simply strengthening my body.
They were rewriting it.
My metabolism.
My energy consumption.
My instincts.
Perhaps even what my body considered necessary to survive.
Everything was changing.
I slowly placed my utensils down.
"…This could get dangerous."
Because right now—
It was only food.
But later?
My eyes narrowed.
What would happen when food wasn't enough?
I didn't have an answer.
And I didn't like that.
I pushed my chair back.
"I'm done."
I stood.
My stomach was still empty.
Not physically.
Something deeper.
Something hungrier.
But I ignored it.
I turned to leave.
Then—
"Velzahar."
My father's voice stopped me.
I turned.
"…Yes?"
He looked directly at me.
His expression was serious.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then—
"Control it."
Two words.
Simple.
Heavy.
My eyes narrowed slightly.
He knew.
Maybe not everything.
But enough.
I nodded once.
"I will."
Then I walked away.
---
The moment I stepped out of the dining area—
My eyes flickered.
For a brief instant—
The calm disappeared.
The restraint disappeared.
Something else looked through them.
Something deeper.
Something ancient.
Something that had been buried beneath layers of blood, instinct, and suppression.
Something that had awakened during the battle with Kragar.
The Beast.
My steps continued.
But my expression became colder.
That hunger was still there.
Quiet.
Patient.
Waiting.
I stopped at the end of the corridor.
For one brief moment—
I could almost feel it.
Not a voice.
Not another consciousness.
Not a separate being.
Just instinct.
Pure.
Primal.
Hungry.
My fingers slowly curled.
Then relaxed.
I took another step.
And another.
I wouldn't let it control me.
Not now.
Not ever.
But deep within my blood—
Something had changed.
The Beast had tasted power.
And now—
It wanted more.
This time—
It wasn't asleep.
— End of Chapter 36 —